Stuffers for purses, boots, and the like

Abstract

A stuffer for clothing articles such as purses and boots is disclosed. One embodiment is a purse stuffer comprised of a single sheet of an elegant, quilted fabric folded and stitched together to form an elegant product. The embodiment has a pocket that accommodates a satchel containing an aromatic filling. The embodiment may be manufactured in several sizes to accommodate different size purses; however, each size may be configured so that it works over a range of purse sizes. In an alternate embodiment, two sheets of quilted fabric are folded and stitched together to form an elegant boot stuffer. Two boot stuffers are used for stuffing a pair of boots.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/335,066 filed Dec. 31, 2009 by the present inventors. This provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to stuffers of purses, boots, and the like. More particularly the present invention relates to stuffers that are simple to make and have an elegant appearance and a pleasant fragrance.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Stuffers for apparel items such as purses, shoulder bags, and boots are widely used. They serve several purposes. First, they retain the preferred shape of the apparel item during storage, thereby extending the life of the item. Second, they give the apparel a pleasant appearance during storage or when commercially displayed, appealing to a woman who has paid or is willing to pay several hundred dollars to purchase the item. Third, they help organize a home closet or a shelf in a commercial establishment so that the items may be displayed nicely in a row, rather than appearing haphazardly.

Various prior art patent documents and commercial products provide stuffer designs. The most common stuffer is the simplest: a piece of foam, styrofoam, crunched tissue paper, or a towel. Some stuffer products provided commercially are designed to be produced as cheaply as possible, yet preserve the preferred shape of the items during shipment or commercial display. Typically, they are discarded once the item is purchased. Another type of prior art stuffer is designed so they collapse when not in use, and expand when inserted in the purse or other item. Often they have complex implementations that include springs and collapsible frames. Still another type of prior art stuffers are high-end products that provide multiple functions such as absorbing moisture and providing a pleasant scent.

However there is still a need for a simple stuffer that may preserve the preferred shape of a purse, shoulder bag, or boot, offers an attractive appearance when used with an expensive item, is relatively simple to manufacture, and appeals to the woman with elegant taste.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A first embodiment of the present invention is a simple but elegant purse stuffer. It is comprised of two major components, a member comprised of a quilted component that is shaped so it fits in the purse that it is designed for, and a sachet that contains a scented material. Various versions of the present invention may be implemented so they fit in purses of various dimensions. The present invention, when inserted into a purse, preserves the preferred shape of the purse, and when removed from the purse, preserves the purse's place in the user's closet. The simplicity and elegance of the present invention fits the needs and desires of the woman who uses it. A second embodiment applies the same inventive concept to boot stuffers. A preferred fabric is a quilted polyester silk charmuese.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the components of a purse stuffer comprising a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are front perspective views illustrating the construction of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a quilted stuffer of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view a pair of boot stuffers comprising a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the three components used to construct the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A through 6G illustrates the steps involved in constructing a boot stuffer of the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, terms such as top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, horizontal and vertical refer to the figure where each reference applies. The same numeral may be used to denote the same part in different views and in different embodiments. The term “internal cavity” of an apparel is used to refer to the interior space of a purse that holds its content, or the interior space of a boot where a user's leg fits. The “preferred shape” of an apparel having an internal cavity is the shape of the apparel when in normal use; e.g. the shape of a boot when being warn by a user or the shape of a purse when filled with user's items and being carried by the user.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two components comprising a first embodiment 100 of the present invention. First embodiment 100 is comprised of a member comprised of a quilted purse stuffer 102 made out of a flexible, resilient fabric, preferably a quilted fabric, and a sachet 104. Quilted purse stuffer 102 has a pocket 112 with a hook/loop pair for opening and closing the pocket 112 that receives sachet 104. Note that only loop material 110 of hook/loop pair is visible in pocket 112. Sachet 104 contains an aromatic filler. The aromatic filler is not illustrated in FIG. 1. A preferred fabric is quilted polyester silk charmuese, although other quilted fabric may be used.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate how quilted purse stuffer 102 is constructed. Note that FIG. 1 includes markings 106 illustrating the seams of the quilted fabric. FIGS. 2A and 2B omit the seam markings. Referring to FIG. 2A, a small strip of a hook material 108 is attached to top center of a purse rectangular sheet 114 made of quilted fabric, positioned horizontally. A small strip of loop material 110 is attached to bottom center of purse rectangular sheet 114 positioned horizontally. Purse rectangular sheet 114 is divided into a rectangular sheet top half 118T and a rectangular sheet bottom half 118B by a horizontal purse fold line 115. Purse rectangular sheet 114 is then folded in half along horizontal purse fold line 115 by folding rectangular sheet top half 118T forward and then down. A folded purse rectangular sheet 116 results from this fold as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, a first purse stitched path 120 is stitched, and a second purse stitched path 122 is stitched, thereby creating the pocket 112 for sachet 104. Pocket 112 is not illustrated in FIG. 2B. Then a third purse stitched path 124 is stitched, and a fourth purse stitched path 126 is stitched, completing the construction of quilted purse stuffer 102. Quilted purse stuffer 102 is then shaped by folding along first purse stitched path 120 and second purse stitched path 122 to form a purse stuffer shape as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Sachet 104 may be added to pocket 112.

Purse stuffer 100 may be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate purses and shoulder bags of various sizes. To give two examples, a medium size purse stuffer preferably has a length 130 of 24 inches (60.96 centimeters), a height 128 of 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) and pocket 112 having a pocket width 132 of 5 inches (12.7 centimeters). Sachet 104, in the medium sized example, is made of muslin, and has a length of 11 inches (27.94 centimeters) and a width of 4 inches (10.16 centimeters). A mini-sized purse has length 130 of 9.25 inches (23.49 centimeters) and height 128 of 5 inches (12.7 centimeters).

FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view of FIG. 3A illustrating rectangular sheet top half 118T of purse rectangular sheet 114, bottom half of purse rectangular sheet 118B, and pocket 112.

Purse stuffer 100, illustrated in FIG. 1, has the shape of a tent. However, purse stuffer 100 may be folded in alternate shapes such as being rolled into a tube or folded into rectangles to accommodate purses of different sizes. Sachet 104 may have an aromatic filler comprising a mixture of organic hulls and lavender. As an example, the filler may contain 2.5 ounces (70.87 grams) of hulls and 0.5 ounces (14.17 grams) of lavender. Alternately the filler may be comprised of hulls and cedar.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment 200. Second embodiment 200 is comprised of a set of two boot stuffers 202. The boot stuffer 202 has the shape of a cylindrical shaft 203, cylindrical shaft 203 is flattened at a shaft first end 208 with a cap 204 positioned at a shaft second end 209.

Referring to FIG. 5, boot stuffer 202 of second embodiment 200 is constructed out of two components, a member comprised of two subcomponents; a boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205 having an substantially rectangular shape and a boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206 having a circular shape, and a second component comprised of a sachet 104. Both boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205 and boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206 are made out of a flexible, resilient fabric, preferably a quilted fabric such as a quilted polyester silk charmuese.

FIGS. 6A through 6G illustrate the steps of constructing the boot stuffer 202 (illustrated in FIG. 4) out of boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205, boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206, and sachet 104. To construct boot stuffer 202, the following steps are performed. Note that FIG. 5 includes markings 106 illustrating the seams of the quilted fabric. FIGS. 6A through 6G omit seam markings.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205 is divided into a boot stuffer rectangular component first half 212T and a boot stuffer rectangular component second half 212B by a horizontal fold line 210. Boot stuffer rectangular component second half 212B is folded up so boot stuffer rectangular component second half 212B lies on top of boot stuffer rectangular component first half 212T.

Referring to FIG. 6B, boot stuffer rectangular component first half 212T and boot stuffer rectangular component second half 212B are stitched together along a first boot stitched path 218. The result is a folded rectangular sheet 217 that has been stitched together as illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, folded rectangular sheet 217 is folded into a predominantly cylindrical shape forming a cylindrical portion 219 having a boot stuffer rectangular component first edge 227 and a boot stuffer rectangular component second edge 228. Boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206 is folded into an inverted bowl shape 220 and placed over cylindrical portion 219 of folded rectangular sheet 217.

Referring now to FIGS. 6C and 6D, boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206 is inserted into cylindrical portion 219 of folded rectangular sheet 217 so that boot upper edge 222 of boot cylindrical shape coincides with cap upper edge 224 of boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206.

Referring to FIG. 6D, boot stuffer circular subcomponent 206, and boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205 are stitched together along a second boot stitched path 226. The result is a boot with cap 229.

Referring to FIG. 6E, boot stuffer rectangular component first edge 227 and boot stuffer rectangular component second edge 228 of boot with cap 229 are stitched together along a third boot stitched path 230.

Referring now to FIG. 6F, boot with cap 229 is turned inside out, then sachet 104 is inserted into bottom opening 232 of boot with cap 229.

Referring now to FIG. 6G, bottom opening 232 is closed and stitched together along a fourth boot stitched path 234. The final shape of the second embodiment has a cylindrical shaft 203 flattened at a shaft first end 208 with a cap 204 located at shaft second end 209. This completes the construction of boot stuffer 202. Alternately, bottom opening 232 may be secured with a hook and loop pair or a zipper so that sachet 104 may be removed.

Boot stuffer 202 may come in various sizes to accommodate boots of various sizes. Construction details are the same; only the dimensions of the components change. For example, boot stuffer 202 may have outside diameter of 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) at the top and 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) at the bottom, and a length of 12 inches (30.48 centimeters). The sachet may have a length of 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) and a width of 6 inches (15.24 centimeters), and uses a filling of two parts hull and 1 part cedar. Alternate methods of construction are also considered within the present invention. For example, boot stuffer may have a length larger or smaller than 12 inches (30.48 centimeters). Boot stuffer rectangular subcomponent 205 my not be folded over, but may be made of a thick quilted fabric that is given the shape as illustrated in FIG. 4, but constructed in a different manner than what is illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6G. The fabric used in the construction may use a thick resilient fabric that is not quilted.

The embodiments of the present invention are to be considered as only illustrative of the present invention and not a limitation of the scope of the present invention. Various permutations, combinations, variations and extensions of these embodiments are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of this invention should be determined with respect to the claims and not just by the embodiments presented.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stuffing an internal cavity of an apparel, the apparel having a preferred shape, the apparatus comprising:

a member, the member comprised of at least one sheet of flexible, resilient fabric, the member dimensioned and configured to removably fit in the internal cavity, wherein the member, when placed in the internal cavity expands the apparel to its preferred shape;

a sachet, the sachet containing an aromatic filler.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and lavender.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and cedar.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one sheet of flexible, resilient fabric is comprised of a sheet of a quilted fabric.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one sheet of quilted fabric is comprised of a attractive, quilted polyester silk charmuese.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 having a means for removably storing the sachet with the member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 comes in at least two sizes so that it accommodates apparel of different sizes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible, resilient fabric has an elegant appearance.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the apparel is a purse;

the member is comprised of a single sheet of quilted fabric such that the single sheet of quilted fabric is folded forming two halves, the two halves being stitched together forming a rectangle with a pocket, the pocket being located on the member, the pocket having a means for opening and closing, the pocket dimensioned to accommodate the sachet.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the apparel is a boot;

the member is comprised of a first sheet of quilted fabric and a second sheet of quilted fabric wherein the first sheet of quilted fabric and the second sheet of quilted fabric are joined together to form a shaft with a cap, the shaft having a shaft first end and a shaft second end, the shaft flattened at the shaft first end, the cap positioned at the shaft second end, the shaft with the cap being dimensioned and configured to fit in the internal cavity of the boot;

the shaft with a cap removably accommodates the sachet.

11. An apparatus for stuffing the internal cavity of a purse, the purse having a preferred shape, the apparatus comprising:

a sachet, the sachet containing an aromatic filler; a member, the member comprised of a sheet of quilted fabric, the sheet of quilted fabric being folded forming two halves, the two halves being stitched together thereby having the shape substantially of a rectangle, the member being dimensioned and sized such that when the member is placed in the internal cavity of the purse, the member expands the internal cavity to its preferred shape; the member having a pocket, the pocket being located on the member, the pocket having a means for opening and closing, the pocket dimensioned to accommodate the sachet.

12. The apparatus for stuffing the internal cavity of a purse of claim 11 wherein the sheet of quilted fabric comprises a quilted polyester silk charmuese.

13. The apparatus for stuffing the internal cavity of a purse of claim 11 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and lavender.

14. The apparatus for stuffing the internal cavity of a purse of claim 11 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and cedar.

15. An apparatus for stuffing a boot comprising:

a sachet, the sachet containing an aromatic filler;

a member, the member comprised of a first sheet of quilted fabric and a second sheet of quilted fabric wherein the first sheet of quilted fabric and the second sheet of quilted fabric are joined together to form a shaft with a cap, the shaft having a shaft first end and a shaft second end, the shaft flattened at the shaft first end, the cap positioned at the shaft second end, the shaft with the cap being dimensioned and configured to fit in the internal cavity of the boot, the member being dimensioned and sized such that when the member is placed in the internal cavity of the boot, the member expands the internal cavity to its preferred shape.

16. The apparatus for stuffing a boot of claim 15 wherein the member has a means for removably storing the sachet.

17. The apparatus for stuffing a boot of claim 15 wherein the first sheet of quilted fabric comprises a quilted polyester silk charmuese.

18. The apparatus for stuffing a boot of claim 15 wherein the second sheet of quilted fabric comprises a quilted polyester silk charmuese.

19. The apparatus for stuffing a boot of claim 15 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and lavender.

20. The apparatus for stuffing a boot of claim 15 wherein the aromatic filler is comprised of a mixture of hulls and cedar.